Report: Win Phone 7.8 available through Nokia Care centers for Lumias

The Windows Phone 7.8 update for Lumia smartphones is reportedly available through Nokia Care i.e. local store/support centers, scattered throughout the world including parts of Europe and India.

According to a number of tips we've received (mostly from India), the anticipated upgrade for those who remain on legacy hardware is available should official support channels be unavailable. Users can simply bring in their phone and have them updated right there by Nokia, even before the "early 2013" date.

The new OS is currently resting on Nokia's servers, and is confirmed to be available for the Lumia 900, 800, 710 and 510. It's advised that consumers contact their local Nokia Care centres to see if the 7.8 update is available for your Lumia Windows Phone (you can start by drilling down through Nokia Support).

We previously looked at Nokia and Microsoft rolling out the Windows Phone 7.8 update, which later turned out to be limited to just pre-production devices only. We're still impatiently awaiting the notifications to begin trickling through, but at least there are channels for consumers to manually upgrade hardware.

Note: US and Canada users will have little luck with this as there are very few Nokia Care centers and what's more, the 7.8 update is not yet available on Nokia's servers.

Report: Win Phone 7.8 available through Nokia Care centers for Lumias

jordanfernandes I agree with you. I was hoping as Nokia keep informing their customers, that if HTC were to compete in the Windows Phone market, they would do as Nokia are. No word or announcements by HTC regarding the 7.8 update. If anyone has any news on HTC's 7.8 update please let us know.
I have a HTC titan (UK) any news I will let you know.

I just hope HTC releases 7.8 soon with things like screenshot, better Bluetooth transfer option, wi-fi alive and a smoother UI. Nokia users are complaining about the sticky music controls with the volume rocker keys and the slow responsiveness from some live tiles. Btw am I the only one in here with a HTC Radar?? Everyone else has a Titan O_O

Guys, its now available for Lumia 610 also. I updated my 610 via Nokia care today. But it cost all my data and installed apps. But that's ok. Read my full reaction to 7.8 update on my blog- http://mobihalo.wordpress.com

After the initial Samsung Focus success, Samsung has been all but absent from the WP7. My next Windows Phone will definitely not be a Samsung.
I all but lost hope that they will ever do a WP7.8 for my Focus.

After installing 7.8, as ayush pointed out in forums, apps takes some time to open. A fraction of a second more than previous. Battery is a welcome change! Lasts much much longer than previous. My regular use used to last for 16-17 hrs, now it's more than 27 hrs on same usage...

In BT share there r two options - files and pictures, while pictures work flawlessly, the file thing is sh*t. I transferred a few pdf/xls from my laptop, but its showing as unsupported file type on lumia.

After installing 7.8, as ayush pointed out in forums, apps takes some time to open. A fraction of a second more than previous. Battery is a welcome change! Lasts much much longer than previous. My regular use used to last for 16-17 hrs, now it's more than 27 hrs on same usage...

In BT share there r two options - files and pictures, while pictures work flawlessly, the file thing is sh*t. I transferred a few pdf/xls from my laptop, but its showing as unsupported file type on lumia.

What's their point in releasing the 7.8 update? Is it fear of bugs or something?
Yesterday my gradpa got a Lumina 900 for his 80th birthday - it would be awesome to upgrade his phone to 7.8 in the next few days.
So you say I have to walk to a Nokia Care center (whereever one may be..) to have it done?

Just called my nearest Nokia Care Point and they say they can do the update to 7.8 for me. Lumia 710 in UK on Vodaphone if anyone else fancies giving it a try. They did say that it was not released for all carriers yet. Gonna stop by tomorrow and see what happens.

VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
The 7.8 Update for Canadian and American (Rogers and AT&T) Nokia Lumia 900 - Model# RM-808 - is NOT available yet via Nokia Care Suite.
Please update the title of this article as it is misleading to the majority of North Americans who are waiting on the 7.8 Update. I read the article only to be disappointed to find out it was only available overseas.

I agree with DrewLumia. The article states the update is available on the Nokia servers, and then says that it is not. I shouldn't have to read through comments to try to make sense of the articles I read on here.

I sent a tip to the website two days ago (which wasn't really picked up on) regarding the 7.8 update on Lumia devices.
I spoke to a Nokia Care agent who informed me that the update could come before 2013. His exact words were "Nokia are working on the update which will hopefully be released this month" (or something long those lines). WPCentral have ignored my email completely.

Im waiting for official release... Or lets say im waiting for a nokia tablet and a surface phone... I dont really care about 7.8..all the latest and brand new apps are made for wp8...7.8 will die quietly

Updated my Lumia 610 yesterday through the Nokia Care suite (on Windows 8 no less). Used generic Euro GB rom - no issues at all. Start screen is excellent, and since I was on Telus, I didn't have the firmware update yet. Seems snappier since it was updated. One issue though is that neither Zune or the Windows Phone Client in Win8 sync the device. Sync and device recognition worked on the new Windows Phone for Mac client (figure that one out!!)

Nokia clearly rules in India and I'm glad that this word of update is spreading. I officially thanked Nokia India on their Facebook page and twitter for giving such amazing service. As I said earlier I was personally called from Nokia care regarding the update (Mumbai) and the update was done in 15- 20 mins and I was explained all the new features and apps after the update too. I'm glad I chose Nokia and wp7.8 on my Lumia 800(black) looks absolutely gorgeous !
I was upset with tango rollout coz India users got it almost a month late but karma has its ways I guess :D

Flashing is mandatory at Nokia care centre, let it be a windows phone update or Symbian Anna it belle update. Its better when formatted, it helps clear the junk and speeds up the phone and I've all important stuff backed up on sky drive and my contacts are backed up in my windows live id, so it's ok for me

Its better that way to start fresh, I've always done all the updates the same way by formatting and then updating. Whatever data I have is backed up safe and all apps are easily accessible and there are chances of bricking the phone at home if computer crashes or power failure or anything so I prefer going to Nokia care which is just nearby my house and updating it #likeaboss

Not everyone likes to loose their SMS and savegames.
And if your flashing fails and the phone gets stuck in the constant boot loop, you can still revive it using NCS. You'd have to try very hard to kill it completely. And then you can still take it to Nokia Care, can't you?

I'm sick of all the current WP devices. Bring on MWC and something new and different! Nokia 920 with stylus and keboard would make me happy. Oh, and throw in the water-proofing from the Fujitsu and a working zoom and I will never need another phone. Come to poppa!

Don't blame the entire start screen, its just few times that are slow, for example : me tile, people hub, etc. I also observed this behavior but rest of the tiles for ex : WP central, baconit, nextgeb reader, etc and all small tiles are pretty snappy

Nokia Care Centre in Lisbon told me they had the 7.8 already. I went there and after 2 hours they came up with an excuse that my phone had an electrical problem and wouldn't allow them to update.
Bollocks, since I've never had any sort of problem with it regarding anything like that.

Oh well.
The Asus Padfone 2 has just been released anyway, I think I'll just get that instead of going throught another painful day's journey with Micro$oft and Nokia. I'm fed up with them.

Now all this sounds great. I'm going to phone Nokia care here in Bristol UK to see if it's available. Don't mind if data is wiped as long as I don't have to repay for the apps. Can somebody confirm this is possible and how it works? Thanks! I have a 610.

I am using Nokia Lumia 610. Is my Model eligible for Windows 7.8 Update ? As you people mentioned Update is ready for 800,710,510 I am little unhappy. I am from India. I really love my Windows mobile and so i want it to be Dressed with more features. I love WPCENTRAL site. It's really informative

Hi sir
Thanks for your article.
I was able to update my Lumia 710 with the latest 7.8 version in 15 mins waiting time.
The 7.8 looks great.
Resizable tiles on home screen.
Bluetooth sharing for files and pictures.
More color themes
updated office
Better battery backup
great !!!!

"We do understand this may not be most satisfactory response to your query. However, you will have to check directly with MSFT as they announced that Windows Phone 7.8 will be available as an update in early 2013 and rollout dates in Singapore will be communicated nearer to availability. Hope this helps you. Thanks for understanding. Cheers, The Nokia Singapore FB Team."

Well that was a waste of time. Despite telling me on the phone yesterday that they could put 7.8 on for me, Nokia Care staff looked at me like i was a complete idiot when I actually went there today. Infact they were quite rude. Not sure they had even heard of Windows Phone. That's Nokia care in Colchester btw, so no one else wastes their time.

Updated my Lumia 800 on last Friday from Nokia Care (Gurgaon, Haryana). Start Screen is awesome, Bluetooth Share and Ringtone Maker apps are pre-installed.
Now, I can transfer MP3's and Pictures, can make any Ringtone of my choice, can set Bing Wallpapers and also can set Google as default search provider in IE.
But there are some bugs as i feel, when trying to open any apps it's respondig slow and some settings are crashing.

Nokia Care in Chester UK are currently updating my 800, they just finished testing the update today. They told me my phone will be wiped as it's a flashing process which is fine! Will report back when I've picked it up!